Clamp for well-drilling cables.



C. F. RIGBY. CLAMP FOR WELL DRILLING CABLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28. 1913.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- INVENTOR C. F. RIGBY.

CLAMP FOR WELL DRILLING CABLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28. "H3.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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CLARK F. RIGBY, or BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLAMP FOR WELL-DRILLING- CABLES.

Application filed July 28, 1913. Serial No. 781,580.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARK F. RIGBY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Butler, in the county of Butler and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamps for Well-Drilling Cables, of which the following is a specification.

The primary ob ect provide supplemental for well drilling clamps, and particularly clamps of the general type illustrated in Letters Patent No. 873,090, granted to me December 10, 1907, whereby the same clamp mechanismmay be used interchangeably for either manila or wire cable without disturbing the larger or manila cable slips, the supplemental slips of the present invention be ing adapted to be removably secured in position on the larger slips'and so contracting the cable passage as to effectively secure the smaller wire cable. The same slip mounting serves for both uses, the main or larger slips remainingconstantly in place and operating either directly on the manila cable or indirectly on the wire cable through the interposed supplemental slips.

A further purpose is to improve the cushion supports for the larger or main slips; also to provide a yoke of novel construction for securing togetherthe bowl parts.

Still a further object is to construct the clamp body guideways of improved construction, whereby absolute accuracy is attained in the manufacture of the clamps so that the slips will operate in exactly the same manner and with the same accuracy in all clamps embodying the invention, the improved construction also facilitating the movement of the slips.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a set of clamps constructed in accordance with the invention, and Fig. 2 is a top plan of the same with the bowl parts open and with portions of the construction shown in section. Figs. 3

- and 4: are vertical cross-sections of the clamp,

taken through the centerof the slips, Fig. 3 illustrating the supplemental slips in position for securing a wire cable, while in Fig. 4 the supplemental slips are removed and the main slips are shown gripping a manila cable. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan on line 55 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of Specification of Letters Patent.

of this invention is to cable-gripping slips.

located slips 6 of relatively larger or bowl with slip-forming Patented Nov. 2,1915.

the supplemental slips partly in section and showing a cable clamp connected thereto.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of one of the main slips, and the end of a supplemental slip carried thereby.

v Referringto the drawings, the clamp body consists of the vertically divided bowl parts 2 and 3 which are hinged together at one side at 4, part 2 preferably; carrying both of the clamp "suspending lugs5 for facilitating in-' sertionfand removal of the cable, as shown and described in my above mentioned patent.

Operative within the downwardly tapering bore of the bowl arethe permanently size for securing the manila cable M, the inner faces of the s'lips being grooved vertically at 7 to embrace the cable, and with the upper portion of the grooved slips cupped or flared at 8 to receive the overhanging portion of the cable,'also to accommodate a wrapping of 'ute or other material commonly emp for accelerating the hold of the slips on the cable. 1

The outwardly fiarednpper ends 9 of slips 6 overhang the vertical depression 10 in bowl parts 2 and 3, with arms 11 depending from the slips into the recesses and bearing on the upper ends of coiled springs 12 seated therein, Each of cavities 10 is open through the, lower extremity of the bowl at-13, said openings facilitating casting the bowl parts with cavities 10, and also serving to keep said cavities clear of dirt, etc. Each arm 11 is shouldered adjacent its lower end at 11 for engaging the stopforming screw 14, thereby retaining the slip against complete withdrawal without interfering with the vertical cushioning thereof.

On the rear or outer side of each slip is an upright dove-tail runner 15. which fits a similarly formed slideway; in soft metal 16 moldedor cast into cavity 17 in the wall of the clamp body bore. The slideways have accurate downward convergence for .contracting the slips into clamping engagement with the cable as they lower in opposition to cushioning springs 12.

For gripping and securing awire cable W, which is of much smaller diameter than the manila cable M, opposed supplemental slips 18 are provided for contracting the cable passage. The arrangement is preferably such that the supplemental slips are removably mounted on the larger slips 6,

loyed thereon.

the upper portions of the supplemental slips being flared outwardly at 19 to overhang the cupped portions 8 of slips 6, a tongue 20 depending from the under side of overhanging portion 19 into a recess 21 in the upper end portion 9 of slip 6 where it is secured by cotter pin 22. The overhanging upper portions 19 protect the cupped or flared por-' in position fits as accurately and is as firmly held as though it were an integral part of the main "slip.

The supplemental slip 18 carried by bowl part 3 has its out-turned upper portion 19 extended at 24 for guiding the cable and for carrying the hooked clamping bolt 25 which is adjusted bya nut 26 for securing the cable to an offset 27 of the guide, the cable being thus secured in a preliminary way or until slips 1.8 canobtain a firm wedging hold Without thus holding the cable some difiiculty would be experienced in tightly gripping the same, whereas with the more yielding and compressible manila cable greater friction is developed and a hold is more readily obtained.

The free portions of bowl parts 2 and 3 are formed with lugs 30 and 31, respectively, which are adapted to be embraced by yoke 32 carrying clamp screw 33. At the rear side of lug 30 is offset 3 1 with the lug above and below the offset-forming bearing surfaces 35 for the upper and lower portions 36 of the open rear end of yoke '32, said parts 36and offset 34 being apertured vertically to receive the hinged bolt 37 which is preferably inserted from beneath. With this construction, while the hinge bolt' maintains the yoke in place when the clamp is open, the considerable strain to which the yoke is subjected when holding the clamp closed is borne by the heavier yoke parts 36 which are in engagement with the lug bearing surfaces 35.

The bowl parts 2 and 3 are heavy steel castings, and to form them with accurate dove-tail grooves, as shown in my Patent No. 873,090, is a tedious and expensive operation, and at best great difficulty has been experienced in making them exactly the same in all instances so that one clamp will operate exactly the same as another. I have overcome this diificulty byv casting the bowl parts with recesses 17 of general dove-tail form in cross section but materially larger than is required to form slideways, and subsequently Babbitt or other relatively soft metal is filled into these cavities in such manner as to form absolutely accurate slide- Ways which are of the same size and have exactly the same inclination or convergence in all clamps. to which the improvement is applied with the result that slips may be used interchangeably on different clamps of my manufacture, and all of the clamps have exactly the same cable gripping action. The larger dove-tail cavities 17 serve to confine the softer metal, and the latter comprise a self-lubricating bearing surface for the slip runners 15.

I claim:

1. A clamp for well drilling cables having a passageway for confining a cable of relatively large diameter, and cable-gripping devices adapted to be inserted in the passageway for securing a cable of relatively small diameter.

2. A clamp for well drilling cables comprising a bowl, opposed slips operative therein for gripping a cable of relatively large diameter, and supplemental slips adapted to be positioned in the bowl without removing the first mentioned slips for securing a cable of relatively small diameter.

3. A clamp for well drilling cables comprising a bowl opposed slips operative therein for securing a cable of relatively large diameter, and supplemental slips adapted to be removably mounted on the first mentioned slips and fitting the cable-gripping faces of the latter for securing a cable of relatively small diameter.

4. A clamp for well drilling cables comprising a bowl formed with opposite vertical recesses, springs within the recesses, opposed cable-securing slips movable vertically in the bowl, and arms depending from the slips and movable in the bowl recesses and engaging the springs confined in the latter. I

5. A clamp for well drilling cables comprising a bowl formed with opposite vertical recesses, springs within the recesses, opposed cable-securing slips movable vertically in the bowl, arms depending from the pin connections between each supplemental sli and the slip which supports it.

A clamp for well drilling cables comprising a bowl having vertical depressions at opposite sides of its bore, a metallic filling for each of said depressions with the filling small'diameter, and tongue and groove and recessed verticallyto form a guideway,.and

cable-securing slips operative in the bowl with the outer face of each slip shaped tofit and move vertically in the guideway.

8. A. clamp for well drilling cables comprising a hard metal bowl having its bore formed with opposite vertical recesses, relatively soft metal within the recesses with the soft metal depressed to form vertical guideways, cable-securing slips operative in the bowl, and a runner-like rib on the outer face of each slip adapted to fit and move vertically in the guideways.

9. In a clamp adapted to be used interchangeably for securing manila and wire well drilling cables, the combination of a bowl having a downwardly tapering bore and with guideways in opposite sides of the bore, a pair of opposed downwardly tapering slips having upright runners on their outer faces movable in said guideways, the inner or opposed faces of the slips grooved to embrace a manila cable, and a second pair of opposed slips curved on their outer sides CLARK F. RIGBY.

Witnesses J. M. NEsBrr, F. E. GAITHER. 

